NRL: Warriors happy with early draw

Warriors' winger Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

A Saturday night fixture at Eden Park kick-starts the New Zealand Warriors' first five matches of next year's National Rugby League campaign.

Kick-off times and dates for the first five rounds of the 2011 competition were released last night, with the NRL scheduling the Warriors-Parramatta opening round match at Eden Park for Saturday, March 12.

It will follow Friday night's season-launching matches on March 11 between Brisbane and North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium and beaten 2010 grand finalists the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney at Sydney Football Stadium.

The Warriors will have a seven-day turnaround before their first away game of the year, against Wests Tigers at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval on March 19.

A run of three straight matches in New Zealand follow, made possible by Cronulla bringing their scheduled fourth-round home game to Taupo's Owen Delany Park on April 3. On either side of that match, the Warriors are at Mount Smart Stadium for clashes against both 2010 grand finalists - the premiership-winning St George-Illawarra on March 27 and the Sydney Roosters on April 9.

"It's a fantastic way to start the season," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said.

"Taking on Parramatta on a Saturday night at Eden Park will be huge for the club and for the game generally, not to mention having the premiers (St George Illawarra) and the Roosters in our first two games of the year at Mount Smart Stadium.

"It all makes for a great start to the season for our members and all other supporters."

NRL draw for the first five rounds (local times):

Round one, March 11 - 14:
Roosters v Rabbitohs at SFS, Fri 7.30pm Bronocs v Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, Fri 7.30pm Warriors v Eels at Eden Park, NZ, Sat 7.30pm Storm v Sea Eagles at AAMI Park, Sat 7.30pm Titans v Dragons at Skilled Park, Sat 6.30pm Raiders v Sharks at Canberra Stadium, Sun 2.00pm Panthers v Knights at Penrith Stadium, Sun 3.00pm Bulldogs v West Tigers at ANZ Stadium, Mon 7.00pm

Round two, March 18 - 21:
Eels v Panthers at Parramatta Stadium, Fri 7.30pm Raiders v Broncos at Canberra Stadium, Fri 8.30pm Storm v Titans at AAMI Park, Sat 5.30pm West Tigers v Warriors at Leichhardt Oval, Sat 7.30pm Cowboys v Knights at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Sat 8.30pm Rabbitohs v Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Sun 2.00pm Roosters v Sea Eagles at SFS, Sun 3.00pm Sharks v Dragons at Toyota Stadium, Mon 7.00pm

Round three, March 25 - 28:
Eels v Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, Fri 7.30pm Titans v Bronocs at Skilled Park, Fri 7.30pm Panthers v Sharks at Penrith Stadium, Sat 5.30pm Cowboys v Storm to be TBC, Sat 6.30pm Warriors v Dragons at Mt Smart Stadium, Sun 2.00pm Bulldogs v Roosters at ANZ Stadium, Sun 2.00pm Sea Eagles v Knights at Brookvale Oval, Sun 3.00pm Wests Tigers v Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Mon 7.00pm

Round four, April 1 - 4:
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles at Bluetongue Stadium, Fri 7.30pm Bronocs v Panthers at Suncorp Stadium, Fri 7.30pm Raiders v Titans at Canberra Stadium, Sat 5.30pm Eels v Cowboys at Parramatta Stadium, Sat 7.30pm Sharks v Warriors at Owen Delany Pk, Taupo NZ, Sun 2.00pm Knights v Dragons at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Sun 2.00pm Roosters v West Tigers at SFS, Sun 3.00pm Storm v Bulldogs at AAMI Park, Mon 7.00pm

Round five, April 8 - 11:
Cowboys v Titans at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Fri 7.30pm West Tigers v Rabbitohs at SFS, Sat 9.30pm Warriors v Roosters at Mt Smart Stadium, Sat 7.30pm Sharks v Sea Eagles at Toyota Stadium, Sat 7.30pm Panthers v Raiders at Penrith Stadium, Sat 7.30pm Storm v Eels at AAMI Park, Sun 2.00pm Dragons v Bulldogs at WIN Jubilee Oval, Sun, 3.00pm Broncos v Knights at Suncorp Stadium, Mon, 7.00pm

- NZPA